Central Union Mission

One life at a time, the Mission works to help transform the area's toughest rehabilitation cases, including drug addicts, gang members, criminal offenders and the chronically homeless into productive members of society. The Mission's programs have an extremely high success rate at helping individuals overcome addiction and homelessness, and achieve independent living.

Central Union Mission is a faith-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with six locations throughout the Washington metropolitan area. In addition to its family ministries, the Mission operates an emergency shelter program, a rehabilitation program for men with life-controlling issues, a food, clothing and furniture distribution center, a retreat and recreation center with a camp for underprivileged children, programs for isolated seniors, computer and job training, and transitional and low-cost housing.

The Mission operates a Men's Shelter at 65 Massachusetts Ave, Washington DC 20001, the Family Ministry Center that provides food, clothing, toiletries and household items to local families in need, The Gospel Mission House, a 15-bed Transitional House for men graduating from one of the mission's programs, Lambert House, with 5 apartments for low-income families, Camp Bennett, a 220 acre retreat and conference center and our administrative offices at 2600 12th Street NE, Washington DC 20018. These facilities with the training and service programs allow us to serve the needs of our community.

Last year the Overnight Guest Ministry and Spiritual Transformation Program provided 58,899 nights of shelter and 6,448 counseling sessions and hospital or home visits. Together, both ministries distributed 29,964 pieces of clothing and served 245,778 nutritious meals at the shelter. At the Gales School men's shelter, the Mission serves 200 guests three hot meals a day.

The Spiritual Transformation Program welcomed 157 participants this year. Men's Ministry provided 1,770 appointments for eye exams, testing or private medical or legal consultations and 16,461 hours of instruction in English literacy, GED preparation and other skills. 51 Men's Ministry program participants found permanent housing this year, ans 88 were employed.

61 men and women were served in the Ready2Succeed Program: 31 in Ready2Work, 3 in Ready2Recycle and 27 in Ready2Cook (Mission Muffins and
the Culinary Training Program); 30 men in the Work Therapy Program (working and living at the Mission); 56 men in the Special Circumstances Transitional Program; and 20 men were housed in the Gospel Mission House transition home.

The Family Ministry Program was able to distribute $7,246,385 worth of food and $1,592,054 worth clothing, furniture and household goods. Through the Family Ministry Center, the Mission server or provided 3.435,415 meals for hungry men, women, families and children. 444 children received new back packs and 1350 children received Operation Christmas Miracle gift bags. Every month, senior citizens join us for a game of Bingo, a delicious lunch, an inspirational message and a bag full of groceries. 17 Seniors Luncheons were held in both English and Spanish, with an average of 250 attendees each month. Four families lived
in the Mission's Lambert House, our low-income housing facility.

Camp Bennett provided a week long camp experience for 335 children.